Vail moratorium on pot moves forward

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The Vail Town Council Tuesday unanimously passed on first reading an ordinance that will extend the town’s current moratorium on retail marijuana sales in town. The town had been working through the spring on perhaps making a final decision on whether or not to ban retail sales in town, facing a self-imposed July 31 deadline.

The town formed a “working group” to evaluate the issue, but it became clear to council members that more time would be needed, which led to the new ordinance.

‘Potential Problems’

While council members all voted for the ordinance — which requires one more vote before final passage — they did raise questions.

Council member Greg Moffet asked whether Vail might be depriving itself of revenue to handle “potential problems” related to retail sales, since those sales are currently allowed in nearby Eagle-Vail. Moffet noted that there are Craigslist ads offering delivery services into Vail.

On the other hand, Moffet said, initial reports from other resort towns indicate there have been few, if any, law enforcement problems.

Council member Jenn Bruno suggested that town officials have some in-depth conversations with their counterparts in Aspen during a get-together later this month.

Vail voters in 2012 overwhelmingly approved Amendment 64, the state constitutional amendment that legalized possession and use of small amounts of marijuana and laid the foundation for retail sales. But a more recent survey showed a majority of town residents oppose allowing retail sales in town.